The Deptford Mice 1: The Dark Portal Read Online Free PDF

winter – the lean time when stomachs are empty and wolves go ravening. Audrey shivered as the wings of midwinter death unfolded around her. The demons of the cold were there with her in the darkness. She could feel their bite.
    She was their prey.
    Audrey ran.
    Ahead was the entrance to the Chamber of Summer, suddenly revealed in the bitter gloom. She flung herself through the doorway.
    Sobbing, Audrey rubbed the bruises on her arms and legs. Then she became aware of warmth – he cold had gone and new life seemed to waken in her.
    Audrey looked up. Before her was the painted image of the sun. Its surface dazzled her and walls of heat came from it. All around Audrey sensed growth. Green things were sprouting; she felt the joy of unfurling leaves stretching themselves and revelling in their newness. Buds swelled and burst, exploding into rainbows of blossom – cherry, orange, apple. Their sweet scent filled the air.
    Audrey was astonished. Everywhere glowed green like the sun through the leaves. Blossoms fell in a snowstorm of multicolours and fruit took its place, expanding and growing quickly. Apples puffed up and shone red and green; pears filled out sensually and hung heavy and ponderous on the branches. Acorns and hazel nuts browned in the sunshine before dropping to the floor. Audrey could see whole fields of grain rippling like strange yellow seas. Was she dreaming? How could this be happening?
    The green light was all around now, and her thoughts moved to flowers, their lives dependent on the sun, all faces turned to it. Under Audrey’s feet she felt them growing: daisies, marigolds, dandelions – all sun symbols bowing their beautiful heads to the greater one.
    And when Audrey felt drunk with it all a voice commanded.
    ‘Mistress Audrey Brown. Why have ye come?’
    ‘To receive that which is now mine by right and to call down upon me my destiny,’ she replied.
    ‘Be it great or small, tall and dangerous, meek and futile?’
    ‘Let it be as the Green Mouse wills it.’
    ‘Then roll away the sun!’
    Audrey touched the blazing image – it was not hot but seemed to be made of the purest gold that had been burnished like a mirror. Gently she pushed and the sun rolled to one side.
    There stood Master Oldnose, his face a picture of bewilderment. He stared beyond Audrey at the living green landscape and his mouth fell open. He tried to speak but all that came out was a strangled squeak. He looked down at Audrey, disbelief all over his stricken face. And then he changed.
    Suddenly he was not there. Only the leafy costume remained – and that began to writhe and grow as life gripped it. The costume sent out branches and blossomed.
    Audrey stepped back as it grew. It had a light of its own, rising in the sap, glowing, feeding the leaves until they shone like lamps and the blossom as wheels of spinning fire.
    Then two eyes formed above her and smokily a face manifested around them. It was old and fierce, kind and noble.
    Upon the brow was a crown of leaves and wheat:
    It was the Green Mouse.
    Audrey fell to her knees before the majestic figure, but try as she might she could not take her eyes from His. They spoke of countless centuries of life; they were a deep green, and yet within that green were many greens. The green of new life burned brightly there but was flecked with the dull hues of graveyard mould: death is never far from life, the eyes told her.
    The mass of growing greenery was His coat and it moved with Him, now shimmering with the light of life. The blossoms fell in fiery rain and strange fruits took their place.
    At first they were small and round yet as they opened and swelled they became all manner of different shapes. All were yellow. They were mousebrasses.
    Audrey gasped and the face smiled at her. Then a green hand appeared from the coat and plucked a brass from the leaves.
    ‘Take it Audrey,’ said a deep, rich voice.
    Half afraid she raised her paw to take the gift but withdrew as she saw it